Novelty plush stuffed toy/utility case

ABSTRACT

A method of adding utility to stuffed or plush toys by the addition of common transportable items. Adding this utility broadens the market for these transportable items as well as the stuffed or plush toy by expanding the range of age groups to which the finished product will appeal. Via the use of a standardized product holder interface panel, items that are usually carried about such as CD discs, photographs, stationery items, food items, etc. may be attached to the interface panel either directly or by means of a product holder. The interfact panel in turn is attached in an aestheticly pleasing mannor to the toy. By adding this utility to an item usually evaluated from an aesthetic standpoint only, the user enjoys benefits of efficiency and economy. By using a standardized product holder interface panel the manufacturer enjoyes economy of flexibility and inventory control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward the addition of utility tostuffed or plush toys as well as broadening the scope of market forexisting utility and storage items. The most basic toy is represented bythe stuffed or plush category. This toy category consists of a widerange of representations such as animals, insects, foods, tools andanything else recognizable by the user. The item may be an accuraterepresentation or a characterization designed to enhance the appearance,thus providing entertainment value. These characteristics are wellknown.

This toy group, although typically associated with children, is embracedat a more advanced age level due to commonly accepted definitions ofstyle and collectability. These characteristics are also well known.

Children and people of all ages are placing additional value onfunctionality. Changes in day-to-day life in terms of how we entertainourselves, how we move about freely and how we carry things ofimportance with us have lead to the creation of many utility and storageitems. The need to conserve resources and provide economy as well asconvenience of function has led to a growing emphasis on value-addedenhancements to day-to-day items. The present invention addresses theaddition of this functionality to the arena of stuffed or plush itemswhile retaining the characteristics that enable these items to beembraced by a broad range of age groups. This addition of functionalityto a classification of item primarily known mostly for aesthetic valuesopens new markets for the functional items while helping the consumerconsolidate wants with needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to overcome the deficiencies ofthe prior art discussed above. It is the object of this invention toprovide three-dimensional stuffed or plush articles displaying a levelof aesthetics pleasing to many age groups.

It is a further object of the invention to provide three dimensionalstuffed or plush articles designed to allow the inclusion of itemsproviding additional utility such as, but not limited to, CD Sleeves,Photo Sleeves and Paper notes via utilization of a product-holderinterface panel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide three dimensionalstuffed or plush articles designed to allow the inclusion of articleswithin standardized containing structures, said structures attached to aproduct-holder interface panel. Said articles may be but are not limitedto stationery items, jewelry, and consumable food items.

It is a further object of this invention to provide three-dimensionalstuffed or plush articles featuring handles for ease of portability.

It is a further object of this invention to provide three-dimensionalstuffed or plush articles that are relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide three-dimensionalstuffed or plush articles easily differentiated from the simple additionof plush representations to existing items of utility as a decoration.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, demonstrating featuresand advantages of the present invention, there is provided a plush orstuffed article designed as a representation of some real item. Saidplush or stuffed article will have an identified top, bottom, right,left, front and back side easily identified such as in the instance ofan animal head, or said plush or stuffed article may have orientation ofsides defined by application of the inventive design. In both cases oneside of said article now called the primary side would have attached asecondary assembly of complementary fabric and design, said secondaryassembly incorporating the aesthetic values of the aforementioned plushor stuffed article.

The secondary assembly is formed from two items of fabric materialhingedly attached at a common point via sewn stitching. Each of saidlayers then has attached thereto a second layer of fabric via sewnstitching and sized to form a first pocket on one layer and a secondpocket on the other. The hingedly attached fabric layers will beoriented such that when placed in contact and parallel to one anotherthe first and second pockets will come in contact with one another andprovide access from the same direction. Said first and second pocketswill furthermore be sized to provide secure placement of aproduct-holder interface panel serving as a generic interface betweenthe secondary assembly and product holders. Furthermore, the hingedlyattached secondary assembly will have attached around the circumferenceof said secondary assembly a closure mechanism such as but not limitedto commonly used fabric zippers. Thus the secondary assembly may berendered accessible or inaccessible via movement of the zipper or otherclosure assembly. This rendering will be utilized in the inventivestuffed or plush article in ways such as but not limited to the creationof an opening mouth in the instance of a stuffed animal.

The secondary assembly will be sized such as to complement the style andaesthetics of the stuffed or plush article when used in conjunction withsaid stuffed or plush article. Taking the aesthetics into consideration,there will be a choice of side on the stuffed or plush article,henceforth known as the primary side. On this primary side the secondaryassembly will be attached thereto using sewn stitching forming a finalassembly of the previously existing plush or stuffed article and thesecondary assembly, imparting the functionality of the secondaryassembly while adding to or not detracting from the aesthetics of theplush or stuffed article. This final assembly of stuffed or plusharticle with secondary assembly will be utilized aestheticly in wayssuch as but not limited to the display of an opening mouth in theinstance of a stuffed animal while product holders attached to theproduct holder interface panel provide storage utility to the heretoforenon-utilitarian stuffed or plush item.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings one form that is presently preferred; it beingunderstood that the invention is not intended to be limited to theprecise arrangements and means shown.

FIG. 1 is a plain view of a plush article in accordance with anembodiment of this invention, said plush article representing acharacterization of human lips.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the article of FIG. 1 designated as primaryside for the purpose of this embodyment of the inventive plush stuffedtoy or utility case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the secondary assembly showing bothfirst and second pockets as well as zipper closure.

FIG. 4 is an elevated frontal view of the secondary assembly-shown inFIG. 3 now in a closed position.

FIG. 5 is an elevated frontal view of the relative positions of theplush or stuffed article of FIG. 1 and the closed secondary assemblyshown in FIG. 4 prior to final assembly of the two.

FIG. 6 is a view of the plush article shown in FIG. 2 showing thecompleted assembly of said plush article with closed secondary assemblyshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the plush article shown in FIG. 1 showing thecompleted assembly of said plush article with closed secondary assemblyshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 shows the plush article and secondary assembly as described inFIG. 6 and FIG. 7 with the secondary assembly shown in open position.

FIG. 9 is an elevated frontal view of a product-holder interface panelto which elements of functionality are attached.

FIG. 10 is an elevated frontal view of the product-holder interfacepanel of FIG. 9 inserted into both first and second pockets of secondaryassembly shown in FIG. 3 after said secondary assembly has been attachedto stuffed or plush article as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 shows the plush article and secondary assembly of FIG. 8 withthe addition of the product-holder interface panel of FIG. 9, saidinsert displaying one embodiment of the invention, the attachment of CDstorage sleeves to the product-holder interface panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Considering FIGS. 1 thru 11 inclusive, there is illustrated in FIG. 1one singular embodiment of a plush or stuffed article 10 designed toutilize the aesthetic appreciation of a characterization of human lips.This embodiment is representative of a broad category of plush orstuffed toy, categorized by virtue of construction consisting of a softouter covering composed of sections of cloth sewn together formingpockets then filled with materials of varying compressability andfinally joined at common seams and sewn to render the outer surfacecontinuous. A common characteristic of the final form is the ability todeform under pressure in a temporary fashion, reversable when saidpressure is released. These characteristics of plush or stuffed articlesare subject to such broad interpretations using a wide range ofmaterials and configurations that the specifics concerning the plush orstuffed item cannot be considered a part of this invention, rather theinvention must be considered the utilization and means of utilization ofsecondary items described herein in conjunction with any plush orstuffed item exhibiting these aesthetic values herein described. Insimilar fashion, the art and craft of sewing as described herein as amethod of attachment is so commonplace as to be rendered generic, and assuch no attempt will be made to illustrate or define the actualmethodology of creating sewn stitching as used to provide closure andattachment between cloth items.

The illustrated and relatively simple embodyment of the invention forpurpose of this document has a back side 12 shown in FIG. 2, designatedas the primary side for purposes of this illustration.

FIG. 3 shows secondary assembly 14 consisting of two items of fabricmaterial 16 and 18 forming a natural hinge at the sewn juncture 42 ofsaid fabric materials. First pocket 20 and second pocket 22 aremanufactured from similar materials as items of fabric material 16 and18 and attached thereto by sewn stitching at seams 24 and 26, said seam24 extending around the circumfrence of fabric material 16 from startingpoint 30 to ending point 32, the distance between said starting point 30and ending point 32 described as degrees of a circle, said circle havingcenter point 38 on fabric material 16 and said measurement of degrees onsaid circle as measured between starting point 30 to ending point 32measuring between 210 degrees and 220 degrees. Seam 26 in a like fashionextends around the circumfrence of fabric material 18 from startingpoint 34 to ending point 36, the distance between said starting point 34and ending point 36 described as degrees of a circle, said circle havingcenter point 40 on fabric material 18 and said measurement of degrees onsaid circle as measured between starting point 34 to ending point 36measuring between 210 degrees and 220 degrees.

First pocket 20 as composed of two flexible cloth panels in superposedrelation forms a first opening 48 and second pocket 22 as composed oftwo flexible cloth panels in superposed relation forms a first opening50.

Zipper closure 28 is shown as the preferred closure mechanism sewn withone mating half 28A sewn to item of fabric material 16 and the othermating half 28B sewn to item of fabric material 18, thus serving as aclosing and securing mechanism. Further demonstrating the quality of twomating halves hingedly attached and the ability of said mating halves toprovide a closed or open configuration, the secondary assembly 14 shownin FIG. 3 is shown in a closed and secured view in FIG. 4 wherein itemof fabric material 16 has been brought into contact with item of fabricmaterial 18 and secured using zipper closure 28.

At this time there is described a carrying handle 44 as shown in FIG. 1,FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. Said carrying handle is provided as a conveniencefeature and serves to render the embodyment of the invention shown asportable. Said carrying handle is shown as an attachment vis sewnstitching to the secondary assembly 14 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 but inanother embodyment of the invention may be attached to the actualstuffed or plush article being utilized rather than to secondaryassembly 14.

Having now provided stuffed or plush article 10 as shown in FIG. 1 andsecondary assembly 14 as shown in FIG. 4, the joining of the two saiditems is shown in FIG. 5. The back side 46 of item of fabric material16, itself forming a part of secondary assembly 14 is brought in contactwith the back side 12 of stuffed or plush article 10 previouslyillustrated in FIG. 2. The two articles 10 and 14 are then joined viasewn stitching around the circumference of item of fabric material 16along seam 62.

Having taken care in the design, manufacture and aesthetic qualities ofsecondary assembly 14, the completed article 64 formed by said secondaryassembly 14 described in FIG. 4 and stuffed or plush item 10 describedin FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, said FIG. 6 showing thecompleted article 64 from the back for purposes of noting the relativeplacement of secondary assembly 14 to stuffed or plush item 10 and saidFIG. 7 showing the completed article 64 from the side, again noting therelative placement of secondary assembly 14 to stuffed or plush item 10.In general, the characteristic of secondary assembly 14 should be eitherto render it subordinate to stuffed or plush item 10 in size andplacement as shown in this embodyment of the invention 64 or in the caseof an embodyment employing a face the secondary assembly 14 may becharacterized as a mouth by virtue of the ability to hingedly mimic theopening and closing of said mouth, this characteristic illustrated aspart of the descriptions of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

The aforementioned ability to hingedly displace the components ofsecondary assembly 14 are further demonstrated in FIG. 8, a view of thecompleted article 64 from the back with secondary assembly 14 in theopen position as shown in FIG. 3.

At this time it is noted that first pocket 20 as composed of twoflexible cloth panels in superposed relation and second pocket 22 ascomposed of two flexible cloth panels in superposed relation whenmanipulated in this open position shown in FIG. 8 now form equal andopposing first openings 48 and 50 initially shown in FIG. 3. Said firstopenings are defined as a size meant to allow the insertion ofproduct-holder interface panel 52 pictured in FIG. 9. Saidproduct-holder interface panel 52 in this preferred embodyment ismanufactured from thermoplastic material approximately 0.035 inches inthickness consisting of first end 54, second end 56 and center spine 58to which may be attached product holder 60 using mechanisms such as butnot limited to thermo-adhesive welding techniques. Said product holder60 is readily enclosed within the space formed when secondary assembly14 pictured in FIG. 4 is in the closed position following theutilization of zipper closure 28 in this preferred embodyment of theinvention. Product holder 60 may be designed as a set of sleeves to holdCD Discs or Photographs. Said product holder 60 may additionally bedesigned to hold paper notes. Additionally, in a generic embodyment ofsaid product holder 60 utilizing geometry specific to the enclosedproduct it may hold a range of items of convenience such as but notlimited to stationery items, jewelry, and consumable food items.

The completed insertion of product-holder interface panel 52 into firstopenings 48 and 50 in first and second pockets 20 and 22 is shown inFIG. 10. It is noted that when first end 54 of product-holder interfacepanel 52 is inserted into first opening 48 and fully inserted into thepocket it is self-located within the pocket with respect to the seam. Itis further noted that when second end 56 is inserted into first opening50 it is self-located within the pocket with respect to the seam andboth ends of product-holder interface panel 52 remain in place withinfirst and second pockets 20 and 22 utilizing a combination of frictionbetween product-holder interface panel 52 and first and second pockets20 and 22. It is further noted that product-holder interface panel 52 isfurther held in place in first and second pockets 20 and 22 because theoverall length of product-holder interface panel 52 is designed to be10% less than the distance from the distal ends of first and secondpockets 20 and 22, shown in FIG. 10 as the distance between point 66 andpoint 68. Thus, for product-holder interface panel 52 to be removed fromcompleted article 64 as shown in FIG. 10, said product-holder interfacepanel 52 must be deformed via the application of external force such asto make spine 58 on said product-holder interface panel 52 bend suchthat the obtuse angle formed by the bend faces said spine 58, thusallowing first end 54 and second end 56 of product-holder interfacepanel 52 to be removed from primary and secondary pockets 20 and 22.

In FIG. 11 the completed article 64 is shown with one embodyment of theinventive product-holder interface panel 52, with a set of sleeves 70 tohold CD Discs 72 permanently attached thereto. Visible in this view isthermo-plastic bond utilized to attach said sleeves 70 to product-holderinterface panel 52 at spine 58.

1. An addition to three-dimensional stuffed or plush articles designedto incorporate a product-holder interface panel.
 2. The addition tothree-dimensional stuffed or plush articles according to claim 1 wherethe product-holder interface panel is a standardized insert attached ina temporary fashion to said three-dimensional stufed or plush articles.3. The addition to three-dimensional stuffed or plush articles accordingto claim 2 where said product-holder interface panel has product holderspermanantly attached thereto.
 4. The addition to three-dimensionalstuffed or plush articles according to claim 3 where commonly availableand thus standardized CD sleeves, photograph holders or note paperbindings are permanantly attached to said product-holder interfacepanel.
 5. The addition to three-dimensional stuffed or plush articlesaccording to claim 3 where custom designed CD sleeves, photographholders or note-paper bindings are permanantly attached to saidproduct-holder interface panel.
 6. The addition to three-dimensionalstuffed or plush articles according to claim 3 where a generic productholder is permanently attached to said product-holder interface panel,said product holder sized to house articles that may be but are notlimited to stationery items, jewelry, and consumable food items.
 7. Theaddition to three-dimensional stuffed or plush articles according toclaim 3 where a closure mechanism is engaged to contain saidproduct-holder interface panel and permanent attachments thereto fromhandling and damage.
 8. The addition to three-dimensional stuffed orplush articles according to claim 3 where a handle is added as part ofthe inventive design or to the original stuffed or plush articleutilizing said inventive design, thus providing portability.